Pump



' G. R. ROOF April 13, 1954 PUMP Filed Oct. 15, 1952 Gordon Reed Roof INVENTOR. @6 1- Patented Apr. 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUMP Gordon Reed Roof, Grand Prairie, Tex.

Application October 13, 1952, Serial No. 314.491

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a pump and particularly to a pump which is responsive to a rocking motion to provide a pumping action.

It is frequently desirable to install a pump in a location where there is repeated. rocking or oscillatory motion and where large quantities of fluid must be pumped relative short distances. Such an example is on shipboard where bilge pumps elevate water from the bilge over the water level at the side of the ship. Heretcfore large quantities of power have been utilized in operating such pumps which must operate quite frequently and handle relatively large volumes of water. In the event of power failure on a vessel it has heretofore been necessary to apply manual power to operate the pumps either to clear the bilge or to pump the fluid, fuel or other fluids about the ship.

The present invention provides a pump operated by the rocking motion of the ship which may be utilized to pump any fluid as is desired about the ship and particularly adapted as a fuel pump or as a bilge water pump.

The present invention utilizes the force of a heavy liquid moving in an arcuate path to produce a pumping action.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved pump.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pump powered by oscillation of the pump.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a self-acting pump.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse section through a vessel showing a pump according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the construction of a pump according to the invention;

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional elevations of the pump showing the manner of securing the pump ing action.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention a substantially arouate tubular member ID is arranged in U-shaped formation having upstanding legs l2 and id. A fluid conduit I6 is provided with a fluid tight joint It with one end of the U-shaped leg l4 and has a depending portion extending into a fluid to be pumped and is preferably provided with a screen 20 for preventing the entrance of foreign materials into the pump connection. A ball valve 22 is seated on a reduced portion 24 of the pipe 16 adjacent to the end of the leg l4 and is maintained in position by means of a spring 26 supported on the open end of the leg 14. The other leg [2 of the U- shaped member is provided with a discharge conduit 28 which may be a discharge port extending overboard from a vessel 30 so that the fluid connection IS with the strainer 20 may be placed in the bilge hole 32 of the vessel. A valve 3i may be placed between the end of the U-shaped member 12 and the exhaust port 28 to open and close the exhaust port to control the operation of the pump. A quantity of heavy liquid such as mercury 44 is placed in the arcuate bight of the U-shaped member and is of sufiicient quan tity to completely seal the bight of the U-shaped member.

In the operation of the pump according to the invention the pump body II] with the U-shaped legs 12 and I4 standing substantially upright is arranged in such position that the tilting motion of the platform on which it stands will be such as to produce an oscillatory motion of the pump in the plane of the U-shaped member. The conduit IE is placed in communication with the fluid to be pumped and the valve 34 is openl When the pump is oscillated to the position shown in Figure 3 the heavy liquid M will tend to flow toward the check valve 22 and since it is heavier than the liquid 42 the liquid 40 will run under the liquid 42 producing a high pressure which causes the latter liquid to bubble out of the leg I4 into the leg l2. On the reverse motion as shown in Figure 4 the heavy liquid to will force the liquid in the leg 12 upwardly producing a vacuum in the leg I l so that the liquid 32 will fill the space between the check valve 22 and the liquid Ml. As the motion again reverses the check valve 22 will close and the heavy liquid it will again flow under the lighter liquid 42 forcing it into the exhaust leg of the pump. Obviously the weight of the liquid 40 must be sufficient to lift the column of liquid 42 to the exhaust opening 28. When it is desired to stop the operation of the pump the valve 34 will be closed preventing discharge of liquid therefrom so that the heavy liquid 46 will alternately compel the lighter liquid to flow from leg to leg in the tubes 12 and Hi.

It will thus be apparent that the present invention provides a self-powered pump operative in response to a tilting motion of the device on which it is mounted and capable of operating without the application of other power other than the tilting motion. While a preferred era-- 3 bodiment of the invention has been shown and described according to the best present understanding thereof, it will be apparent that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof without departing from the true spirit and purpose of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A fluid ;.pu mp'-,;comprising. a U-shaped conduit including substantially ,par'allelupstanding legs and an arcuate bight connecting the lower ends of said legs, a spring pressed check valve adjacent the top of one of said legs, a fluid supply conduit in communication with the upper end of the leg associated with said check valve a discharge conduit communicating with the other leg, a quantity of heav-y liquid sealing' the bight of said U-shaped conduit.

2. A fluid pump comprising a U-shaped con- ..du t. includin ubstant a y parallel upstandin ,ule spand, an arcuate. bight connecting: the lower lfle'nds o f said legs, a spring pressed check valve adjacent the topjofjonefof said legs, a fluid. supplynco'nduit in communication with the upper ,,end ofthetleg associated iwith said check valve,

4 a discharge conduit communicating with the other leg, a quantity of heavy liquid sealing the bight of said U-shaped conduit, a valve for closing said conduit.

3. A fluid pump comprising a U-shaped conduit, a fluid inlet connection attached in fluid tight relation at the upper end of one leg of said conduit, a check valve in said inlet connection .zadjacent-the; point ofaoconnection with said U- shaped conduit, a quantity of heavyliquid sealing the bight of the U-shaped conduit, a dis- ,-charge conduit communicating with the upper end of the other leg of said U-shaped conduit,

1 a valve in sealing relation in said discharge conduit.

.a;..References:-Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 386,717 ;--Pontallie July 24, 1838 FOREIGN PATENTS Number 1 Country .Date

5 5,753 1' Great Britain May 9,1885 

